Lake Issues.

Class Struggle

Keeping Up With The Curriculum

Schools Find That Teaching Parents Is Part Of Their Job, Too

May 01, 1994|By Margaret Van Duch. Special to the Tribune.

Education experts agree that parents who take an active role in their children's education will powerfully affect academic achievement. Yet trends in education are making that parental role difficult as the teaching of basic subjects such as math, reading and science have been revamped repeatedly in recent years.

As a result, educators are calling for renewed teamwork between parents and teachers. The message is getting across in Fox Lake School District 114.

"We've always understood that children do better in school when parents are involved," said Sandra Schuenemann, District 114 curriculum director.

This year the district formed a communication council that deals solely with parent education, Schuenemann said. In addition, parents now have an active voice in curriculum changes, she said.

"The problem we've faced in the past is that parents were afraid to come into the schools. If they had a bad school experience (as a child), they felt alienated and were afraid to come into our schools. This perpetuated the problem and kept them from getting involved in their children's education," Schuenemann said.

Today parents receive course outlines detailing what their children are learning in school, so they can center out-of-school educational activities on that material. For example, if children are being taught about rock formation, a parent might focus on certain types of rock they see during a family vacation, she said.

Aside from these activities, the district also created a "parent center" where parents can go with their children to help them with their homework, Schuenemann said. For instance, the parent room provides parents of high achievers or low achievers with suggestions on ways to excite children's learning, she said.

Added Pat Alford, District 114 preschool director, who is actively involved in the parent changes, "When you get parents to come to places like the parent room, it lets the child know you as a parent care and you think going to school is important."

Fox Lake parent Debbie Kirste agreed and is excited with the direction being taken by her district.

"My child is a better learner as a result of these changes," Kirste said.